El Aposento Alto

All kinds of touching happen throughout this twin narrative. First there is Jairus falling at Jesus’ feet, possibly grasping him in desperation, begging him to “ . . . lay your hands on my daughter.” Then there’s the crowd—the pressing, pushing, jostling mass of people—all touching one another, many possibly trying to touch Jesus. Then there is that show-stopping touch of the nameless woman and the corresponding divine touch upon her body. Might her heart also be touched by Jesus’ tender offer of kinship? Finally, there is the life-giving touch of Jesus as he moves past ritual restraint to touch a lifeless body, restoring a child to her place within the family and the community, restoring a broken relationship, if you will, between a daddy and his girl.

Touch is a powerful parental gesture—for good or for ill. Medical experts who study the phenomenon of touch tell us that this is the first language we learn as infants. If touch is a language, then we should learn it well! We should use it fluently, articulately, and eloquently to communicate God’s amazing grace to people who may not get the message as clearly or as deeply otherwise! To be sure, touch is a culturally defined gesture; touch as a language communicates best when it stems from a heart of goodwill and understanding. And what of touch as prayer? As a chaplain beside the bed of non-communicative persons in the throes of sickness, I’ve often had to resort to the wordless prayer of a gentle touch upon a patient’s hand; even a virtual touch, simply extending a hand toward the person, hoping and praying for that spark of divine energy to do what only God can do.

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, unuttered or expressed, the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast. O Thou, by whom we come to God, the Life, the Truth, the Way: the path of prayer thyself hast trod; Lord, teach us how to pray (UMH, no. 492).

Rece las Escrituras usando Leccionario en Audio
Leer Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

²¹ Jesus crossed the lake again, and on the other side a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. ²² Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, came forward. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet ²³ and pleaded with him, “My daughter is about to die. Please, come and place your hands on her so that she can be healed and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him. A swarm of people were following Jesus, crowding in on him. ²⁵ A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had gotten worse. ²⁷ Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. ²⁸ She was thinking, If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll be healed. ²⁹ Her bleeding stopped immediately, and she sensed in her body that her illness had been healed. ³⁰ At that very moment, Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” ³¹ His disciples said to him, “Don’t you see the crowd pressing against you? Yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” ³² But Jesus looked around carefully to see who had done it. ³³ The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.” ³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking with her, messengers came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying to Jairus, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher any longer?” ³⁶ But Jesus overheard their report and said to the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.” ³⁷ He didn’t allow anyone to follow him except Peter, James, and John, James’ brother. ³⁸ They came to the synagogue leader’s house, and he saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, “What’s all this commotion and crying about? The child isn’t dead. She’s only sleeping.” ⁴⁰ They laughed at him, but he threw them all out. Then, taking the child’s parents and his disciples with him, he went to the room where the child was. ⁴¹ Taking her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Young woman, get up.” ⁴² Suddenly the young woman got up and began to walk around. She was 12 years old. They were shocked! ⁴³ He gave them strict orders that no one should know what had happened. Then he told them to give her something to eat.

0 Comentarios

Iniciar sesión to leave a comment

Leccionario Semanal

June 21–27, 2021

Resumen de la Escritura

David is remembered in scripture as a mighty king but also as a great poet. Many of the Psalms are ascribed to him. In Second Samuel we find a song of lament over Saul and Jonathan. Saul was violently jealous of David, yet David still honored Saul as God’s anointed king. Jonathan was David’s best friend. David bemoans Israel’s loss of these leaders. The author of Psalm 130, although probably not David, appeals to God in David-like fashion. The Gospel shows the power of a woman’s faith. In Second Corinthians, Paul deals with practical matters, appealing to the Corinthians to send promised financial help to the believers in Jerusalem.

Preguntas para la reflexión

Read 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27. What part does music play in your prayer life? Do you sing both songs of lament and songs of praise?
Read Psalm 130. When have you cried out to God from the depths of your despair? What was God’s response?
Read 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. How do you maintain your eagerness to practice your faith?
Read Mark 5:21-43. What has been your experience of God’s healing?

Responda publicando una oración.

Mark 5:24-34

Mark 5:21-43

Encuentre recursos relacionados

Abrir sesión en El Aposento Alto